GM recalls bakkies over bonnet latch

GM has found four Chevrolet Colorado pickups which were assembled without the secondary bonnet latch.

General Motors is recalling 145,628 mid-sized pickup trucks globally as the bonnet could open unexpectedly due to a possible missing latch.

Of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups affected by the recall, 118,800 are in the United States, 15,264 are in Canada, 7,492 are in Mexico and the rest are exports, GM said.

GM is recalling the model year 2010 to 2012 trucks because the hood may be missing a secondary bonnet latch, so if the primary latch is not engaged the bonnet could open and block the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash, according to documents filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

GM said there were no reports of crashes or injuries related to the issue, and only four known cases of the secondary bonnet latch being missing.

The company said it would notify owners and instruct them to inspect their trucks for the presence of a secondary hood latch or take the truck to a dealer for inspection. If the secondary latch is missing, the bonnet would be replaced.

The NHTSA said dealers had been notified of the issue on 18 December and GM expected to begin mailing letters to owners on 17 January. - Reuters